Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/25/2026
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Dogwood Forum, Columbia College
Categories
Columbia College Community Orchestra Hosts Spring Concerts
The works of Rachmaninoff, Holst and Faure will be performed at two orchestral concerts in Columbia College’s Dogwood Forum on Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
“The Columbia College Community Orchestra is continuing to ascend upward to perform larger repertoire pieces. More like what you’d find in metro centers,” Dr. Daniel Godsil, conductor of the orchestra, said.
Godsil is an award-winning composer, competing internationally. His choral works are published by Alliance Music Publishing and NoteNova Publishing, and his chamber and orchestral music is published by BabelScores in Paris.
Jason Jeffrey, an accomplished pianist from San Joaquin County, will solo with the orchestra performing the first movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto 2.”
Jeffrey feels that this opportunity to perform with the orchestra is almost heaven sent.
“Since performing with the University of the Pacific’s orchestra in a concerto competition winners’ concert 10 years ago, I’ve been busy working as a Catholic church music director and putting on solo recitals and doing lots of accompanying work of the side,” Jeffrey said. “For the past 10 years, it’s been my dream to merge my experience in both worlds of soloing and collaborating and teaming up with a full orchestra again. Each party has so much to offer, and such collaborations is so rewarding – both for the musicians and the audiences.”
While performing with the Pine Cone Singers in Groveland, Jeffrey spoke with clarinetist Len Otley about his experience with the college orchestra.
“I asked if the conductor might be interested in performing a concert with a piano soloist. He told me that the orchestra just received an email asking if anyone would be interested in soloing. I reached out to Dr. Godsil immediately and received a quick response,” Jeffrey said.
The Rachmaninoff piece was selected because it is a beloved work that Jeffrey has always wanted to learn and perform, and it is such a hit with audiences. And it gives a chance to showcase some of the the lower brass instrumentalists of this orchestra.
Jeffrey graduated from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance.
He is a returning performer at the Sonora Bach Festival and the Motherlode Friends of Music Concert Series. He is the former Director of Music Ministries for the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton and currently enjoys serving as a choir director and pianist/organist for St. Isidore Catholic Church in Danville. He loves his current full time position as a piano instructor at Reeder Music Academy in Danville.
Jeffrey enjoys putting on concerts, and regularly accompanies student and professional instrumentalists and vocalists for various musical occasions, including competitions for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and has played for the international Global Outstanding Chinese Artists Association (GOCAA) competition.
The April concerts will include two movements of “The Planets” by Gustav Holst.
“We will perform the Mars and Jupiter movements from ‘The Planets’,” Godsil said. “These will allow us to feature three of our students who are transferring out of Columbia College and heading to Sacramento State.”
The three students are Joeffer Orfiano on trumpet, Natalie Miller on horn, and Joah Milam on percussion.
The concert will include the popular “Pavane” by the impressionist French composer Gabrielle Faure.
“Many audience members will recognize the ‘Pavane’,” Godsil said. “This was selection suggested by our Concert Master Gary Osias.”
“The Short Symphony” was written by Godsil in 2003. While it has been performed several times, this is the first time Godsil will be able to conduct this composition.
The Columbia College Chorus will join the orchestra to perform to works by Ennio Morricone – selections from the film “The Mission” and from the film “Once Upon A Time In the West”. The chorus will also join the orchestra for a performance of John Rutter’s “A Gaelic Blessing.”
“The College Community Chorus will have a brief concert before both the orchestra concerts,” Godsil said. “So you have two concerts for the price of one.”
The chorus, led by Shiloah Fenn will perform on stage at the Dogwood Forum at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 24 and at 2 p.m. on April 25.
